There are more reasons than usual to be excited anticipating the opening of the 2014 New York State Fair, now six weeks away. And the Fair has done a masterful job keeping us interested by releasing information bit-by-bit over the past few weeks. From Grandstand and Chevy Court acts to various ticket plans and deals, we’ve heard plenty to assure us that there will be new and exciting changes this year.

Of course the arrival of a new midway operator is enormous news. New Yorkers walked the Strates Shows lot for decades, but this year the Fair will debut the Wade Shows. Comments we’ve heard are widely varied, those who have actually experienced Wade elsewhere are split on opinions of whether it’s a good move. Either way, it’ll be fun to see for ourselves.

It may seem a minor point to some fans, but the return of the wine court to its traditional location on the colonnade is a major development to others. It’s a great spot for wine lovers to socialize and chill, within earshot of Chevy Court and for vendors it’s a more visible, higher-traffic location with better ambience than the alternatives. As this photo from last year shows, there’s plenty of underutilized space up there.

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But the most important reason it’s an improvement is it sends the message to Fairgoers that their opinion matters. They weren’t asked before the decision was made back in 2008 to relocate the wine tents. They complained at the time and never warmed up to any of the subsequent locations. At last it seems someone is finally listening and making a good decision, one that will likely pay off with brisk business for the wineries and good will for the Fair.
What else is new—plenty. So check back often as the State Fair Hound goes in depth on all things Fair leading up to opening day.